Acquiring Minds So Much Fun: The Buyer of Choice in a Fragmented Industry
17 snips
Sep 18, 2025 Mark Anderegg, an entrepreneur and the mind behind Little Sprouts, shares his journey in building a leading childcare platform. He discusses the challenges of raising a search fund and highlights his struggles as what he humorously calls the 'world’s worst searcher.' Mark dives into operational pitfalls, staffing woes, and the complexities of managing a childcare business. He also reflects on his growth strategies, the importance of culture, and lessons learned from selling his business, providing invaluable insights for aspiring operators.
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Balance Personalization With Volume
- Use volume at reasonable personalization (VARPing) for sourcing to balance reach and cut-through.
- Pre-qualify sellers by the third or fourth call to avoid wasting time on unmotivated owners.
Lucky Deal From A Familiar Diligence
- Mark discovered Little Sprouts after a call with a former colleague who was taking it to market.
- He had previously done diligence on the company and bought it from that colleague in 2012.
Pick Businesses That Work Without New Bets
- Mark chose Little Sprouts because minimal new assumptions were needed for a positive outcome.
- He believed the business could keep growing at historical rates and still deliver a win.
